Abu Dhabi - A wound on a finger, no gloves, no uniform or hairnets - this was how workers were caught preparing food at "grade three" restaurants when inspected by Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority recently.
Chicken was being kept on the kitchen table at room temperature, instead of a refrigerator. Although it is mandatory to use stainless steel kitchen utensils, two outlets were still using aluminium utensils. These two outlets already had two warnings earlier.
The two restaurants will be closed down, until they fix the violations, a senior official told Gulf News.
Excuses
"When we issue warnings and 'violation', they always give excuses and ask for more time but after closure, they fix everything within 48 hours," said Mustafa R. Al Gazali, Manager of General Food Inspections at the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) who led the inspections at Al Khatim on Abu Dhabi-Al Ain highway.
"After the closure, the outlets have to pay a fine of Dh100 a day up to four days and afterwards a fixed fine of Dh10,000," Al Gazali said.
Inspections at outlets on highways have intensified, as large numbers of people eat at highway restaurants, said Mohammad Jalal Al Reyaysa, Manager of Communication and Information Department at ADFCA.
An Indian restaurant was using a wooden table instead of a stainless steel one. Its floor and walls were dirty. The drainage pipe was not properly closed and covered. An old and filthy container was used to keep some food items. A Pakistani restaurant had an unclean kitchen with no ceramic tiles on its walls.
"We insists on ceramic tiles on kitchen walls for better hygiene as it can be cleaned easily," he said. "There was no proper ventilation and lights in the kitchen. A worker with a wounded finger was still preparing food. We always warn workers with injuries on their hands or skin diseases to stay away from work," said Mohammad Ali Mashjari, an inspector.
Some personal belongings such as bags and shoes were found in the kitchen which is illegal. Chicken, fish and vegetables were kept together without a partition in a freezer with a broken door. "It will cause contamination," said Mashjari.
Six outlet closed
ADFCA confirmed that six restaurants were closed down:
- Fatah Al Khair Restaurant on Abu Dhabi-Al Ain highway
- Al Adil Restaurant on Abu Dhabi-Al Ain highway
- Deema Café and Cafeteria at Baniyas Club
- Al Khalha Restaurant and Cafeteria at Khalidiya.
- White Restaurant at Al Faya on Abu Dhabi-Al Ain highway.
- Al Khail restaurant, Zayed First Street
The authorities requested public to report violations at 800555.
By Binsal Abdul Kader
© Gulf News 2008
